Why is cheese wax red?
All the cheese wax I've seen on cheese is always red. Is there a specific reason as to why this is? Can the wax be some color other than red, like maybe magenta?
Best Answer
You haven't seen a lot of waxed cheese, or you've only seen a few specific ones. I can easily find (and have frequently eaten) green, black, and yellow ones, though the yellow in some cases is more of a clear wax. Other colors are possible though the range may be somewhat limited by having the cheese wax be non-toxic (generally felt to be a good idea.)
One supplier has red, clear, yellow, purple and black (no green there.) Here's the purple.
This may also be a regional thing - if all the people that buy cheese in your area expect red wax and are more likely to buy cheese waxed that color, you'll see more of it, as suppliers will learn to choose red wax when supplying that region.
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Quick Answer about "Why is cheese wax red?"
At the grocery store, you might have seen a red wax on a gouda or a black wax on a cheddar. That's because the companies that made those cheeses chose those colors. Sometimes a company will choose one color of wax and then use that color for every type of cheese they make. It becomes part of their brand.Is the red wax on cheese edible?
Can I eat the wax on cheese? We appreciate the enthusiasm but unfortunately the wax isn't meant to be eaten. The gift of cheese is best enjoyed unwrapped and free of wax. Don't sweat it if you ate some though, it's 100% food safe.What is the red wax on cheese made of?
What is cheese wax made from? Typically cheese wax contains paraffin (a petroleum-based solid), microcrystalline waxes, and colouring.How do you remove red wax from cheese?
You just use a vegetable peeler. It removes just enough of the exterior to get the wax (or whatever) off, without digging away too much cheese. And since most cheeses are round and can't be trimmed efficiently with a knife, this method is very effective.Is the red wax on Babybel cheese edible?
The wax we use to coat our products is made of a blend of paraffin and microcrystalline waxes and colouring, which specifically contains no Bisphenol A. It's \u201cfood safe\u201d and meets very strict regulatory standards. It poses no health risk if accidentally ingested.Why does Edam Cheese have that thick Wax Coating? | Food Unwrapped
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Answer 2
That is strange. Were I live once cheese is removed from the cheese press. It is wrapped in wire. Then dipped in bees wax. As we have or candle wax. White to a light yellow. Then hung from the wire to keep rodents from getting to it. Also to protect it for late use. Maybe people like to buy red. Red & Blue items sell better in box's & such. Old selling trick. White bags with red & or blue marking's sell better in a shop.
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